(a) To the extent that funds are available in the Coastal Access Account in the State Coastal Conservancy Fund, the conservancy shall open at least three public accessways each year either directly or by awarding grants to public agencies or nonprofit organizations.
(b) The conservancy may transfer public access easements or other less-than-fee interests in property to an appropriate public agency or nonprofit organization for development, management, or public use, or may enter into agreements with public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the development, management, or public use of the accessway. Transfer under this section is not subject to approval by the Department of General Services pursuant to Section 11005.2 of the Government Code. The conservancy shall retain the right to reclaim the easements or other interests in the event that the public agency or nonprofit organization ceases to exist, is no longer able to manage the accessway, or violates the terms of the agreement.
(c) Before a nonprofit organization may accept an offer to dedicate an interest in real property under Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000), the nonprofit organization shall do all of the following:
(1) Submit satisfactory proof to the executive director of the commission that the nonprofit organization has been approved as a tax exempt public benefit corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and has filed a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service.
(2) Submit a management plan to the executive director of the commission and the executive officer of the conservancy that describes the nonprofit organization’s planned management and operation of the interest.
(3) Grant a right of entry that permits the conservancy to reclaim or assign the interest to another public agency or nonprofit organization, if the conservancy and the commission determine that the nonprofit organization is not managing or operating the interest consistent with the management plan developed pursuant to paragraph (2).
(d) A public accessway accepted pursuant to Section 31402.2 may not be developed, improved, or formally opened for public use until its transfer, development, or public use has been authorized by the conservancy.
(e) The conservancy may not use moneys appropriated from the General Fund for the purposes of this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 337, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)